A few days later, everything was prepared for their departure. Their allies would meet them in the Glistening Walnut Grove and their weapons were shined. The titans promised to keep an eye on the stars and the lands, but so far, nothing forewarned their failure.

When it was time, Asteria personally brought them to the edge of the border. She carried them, their bundles and the gas weapons, placing all of them neatly on the ground so they could assemble. Morana was there, having met with the grove a day prior, and she brought the gryphons for a quick approach from the skies.

Seonghwa nodded at Asteria when he slipped onto the back of his gryphon, dressed in soft riding pants and a fitted leather vest. She politely nodded back at him.

"May your stars shine bright for your success," she wished them luck. As she lifted back to her full size to return to her lands, Seonghwa glanced at his husbands, making sure they were ready to depart. When he was met with determined faces, he lifted his hand into the air, giving the signal.

A moment later, the family chased off into the forest to meet with their allies. The gryphons' claws dug up the earth as they raced through the trees, wings folded to dodge stray branches. Seonghwa ducked low into the feather coat of his mount.

Hongjoong and Jongho would expect them there. They left the twins, Pebble, and all the pets other than Morana's birds with Seungyoun back in the cave. The servant had expressed his faith in Seonghwa, bowing deep before the emperor he never stopped believing in. Seonghwa promised him to be safe.

Mingi would stay behind in the camp near the border, only accompanying them this far. But he wouldn't be alone.

In this past week, their allies had assembled, and the forests bustled with life. Hongjoong's mages had erected a magical barrier to filter their noise, making their presence near imperceptible. When Seonghwa's group passed through the white sheen with Hongjoong's help, the sorcerer murmured something like, 'they finally set up a proper dome of silence. I had lost all hope' before they rushed ahead.

The dryads allowed their guests to use the grove freely, accommodating their forest to form a protective wall. It parted for their arrival, disentangling ivy and gnarly oak branches until a tunnel of lush green opened for the gryphons to race through. When their feathered friends picked up on their fellow gryphons nearby, they bellowed out bone-chilling screeches, which were echoed from the forest.

Amid the thick foliage, their allies set up camp. The mages with their ridiculously fancy and elaborate tents, the gryphon-borns with their furs flung onto the ground in random directions, and the seraphim with their own bedrolls, but these were sorted into clean rows.

Some mingled, but most stayed with their fractions, preparing for the role they would play in this ambush. Weapons got sharpened, spells got woven. The gryphon-borns were busy drinking, but a couple of familiar faces had come. When Seonghwa swung off his mount, he saw Hlin and Eldrid, looking chipper and wearing battle paint despite their long journey here. The nymphs had also arrived, and the uncanny beauty of their queen contrasted with the pelt-wearing gryphon-borns.

Wooyoung raced ahead to greet his people, and Morana also scurried off, but for Lillwen instead. She brought Wynn, her advisor, and the two instantly turned their heads at Morana's call.

"Princess. You are growing up prettier than any other," Lillwen greeted her as Morana as Seonghwa approached, leaving it to his husbands to catch up with their people. Yeosang took Jongho to find Sylvia, so Yunho watched over Seonghwa together with Mingi.

"Good to see you again! Please don't eat my uncle," Morana asked Lillwen gravely, and the nymph's laughter blubbered like a mountain quell.

"We would never," Wynn also promised, before she bowed before Seonghwa.

"Your Majesty. Finally, we shall see you rise," she greeted, and Seonghwa nodded back at her and Lillwen, keeping his face indifferent.

"Thank you for your support through the years and until now. I shall live up to it." His voice was quickly attracting people, his song stirring memories hidden deep in their subconscious. Curious eyes peered under his hood, tried to catch slivers of his skin and the movement under the fabric. Soon, they realised who accompanied him, why these children seemed so familiar, and who might be hiding in their midst as the heart tying all of those strings together.

Not all the assembled forces had known of Seonghwa's survival. Their hushed whispers quickly became shocked gasps, then breathless words of relief. They crowded closer to see him, so Seonghwa didn't make them wait. He turned to address them and brushed off his hood at the same moment, his beauty too unique to be anyone else.

Finally, the grand reveal. In an instant, everyone fell quiet. Mages stared with open mouths and even the seraphim stood stunned by the sudden turn of events. So far, they thought they fought for his husbands in a quest to avenge for their fallen emperor. Suddenly, the pieces clicked into place.

"Greetings, all those who so justly offered their strength to us," Seonghwa sang at them and his husbands crowded around him, providing strength when his fingertips trembled. The agony in his voice understood all which suffered over this long period of uncertainty. He feared not finding their approval again, but he stood strong.

"I know you might not wish to see me here. That I was missing for a long time this past decade. And there is much to explain. But today, I only hope you may join our battle against the orcs, so I may make up for my mistakes. I would be deeply indebted to you." Seonghwa bowed deeply, making more of them gasp at the sign of submission.

One of the seraphim fell to his knees, awed at the sight of their emperor shining strong as ever, with their king by his side.

"Is it truly you? You survived and returned to us?" He whispered and Seonghwa kindly held out his hand to him to help him back to his feet. Their grip supported each other as the elf blinked away the glistening wetness of his gratitude and compassion towards them.

So many still wished to fight. Waited for an opportunity, even if it might be the last mission they ever went on. Life wasn't the same since the war. And Seonghwa honoured their sacrifice for peace, for their empire.

"It is me," Seonghwa reassured as the metal glove carefully cradled his hand, feeling the solid flesh below. Not a spirit, not an illusion. Their very same emperor.

"And I apologise for my long absence. For now, you shall be the only ones to know and once we win this battle, I shall show myself and endure all judgement cast on me. But for today, even if you may not believe in me, I hope you believe in my family. Who fought hard this past decade, for me and for our people."

The murmuring swelled. Some would be unsure if he could lead them, as he failed once. Others looked excited to have him back. It was a wild mixture, but they settled on a consensus. Seonghwa's family never stopped fighting in favour of the empire and its people. His kids had grown strong and would participate in this mission, not hidden away on soft cushions while others died. Same as for Seonghwa.

There was lots to discuss, but for today, he provided weapons and hope. That was more than they had bargained for.

"We never stopped believing in your return!" Hlin bellowed from the corner of her people and they thrust their fists into the air, hollering out a cheer. When Seonghwa smiled at them, Hlin raised her cup with a sly wink.

The mages were most tentative, studied enough to question his whereabouts. But with the seraphim relaxing since they came to follow the orders of their king and the gryphon-borns merrily drinking to the survival of 'their favourite glowy long-ear', the mages also gave him a chance.

"What is the plan, Your Majesty?" one of them asked, and Seonghwa thanked her with a fleeting smile. He wouldn't hope to bewitch them in his favour, wouldn't ask for their mercy. For now, they fought. And afterwards, the people would decide how they wanted to think about him.

Seonghwa gathered everyone for a briefing. The dryads listened from the trees and a fire crackled in their midst as Seonghwa caught them up with the usage of their gas weapons and what they learned about the orkish tunnels.

Thistle arrived in the evening as well. She slipped from the forests in Hongjoong's and Morana's company, and the princess glared at the few who jumped up on alert at the sight of the goblin. When she joined Seonghwa's side, he hovered a gentle hand behind her back, shielding her from the suspicious glares.

"This is Thistle, a friend of my family and an even closer friend and saviour to my daughter. Her elven side permits her strong feelings and communication, making her more educated compared to our usual goblins. We firmly believe in a chance of rehabilitating many of their kind. Thistle, what do you know about the goblins in the orkish marches?"

Thistle was nervous to speak before so many eyes directed at her, but she held Morana's hand tightly and sapped her strength.

"The goblins are without any order or leader... They swarm out in groups and ones like me would split off. Um, there might be a bunch of them around, but I never saw them following the orders of the orcs, so I don't think they would fight with them? But don't rely on that too much," she stuttered nervously, and Seonghwa nodded. That's all he needed to hear. Goblins were loiterers, attacking for loot and meals, but they were no organised army, not like them.

When Thistle went into hiding among the trees with Morana, Seonghwa stepped back into his spot. His face was serious now, reading the determination off the gathered people. They looked grim, focused on the matter at hand instead of dwelling on the past.

They weren't many, only a few hundred, but they were everything Seonghwa needed.

"The orc brood has tormented us for many centuries. During my father's reign, my brother's schemes and even now, long after the war. They have taken so many of our people and after many attempts at peace, this is our last resort," he reminded them. Showed that he was ready to fight. Not all would like it, but it was necessary now more than ever.

Their silence listened to him. Ready for his call.

"However, I do not believe that an entire race deserves to be extinguished. Like my Mingi and like Yongguk, there are always exceptions. We shan't make hundreds suffer for the mistakes of some. If there are goblins who split off the vile games, they won't be present in their breeding caves. The gas kills our foes quickly and painlessly. But there may be some skirmishes on the surface, which is what I need you for. Help me fend them off and help me save our people. Together with our allies, the titans and the nymphs, we shall retrieve our lost people, so we may live at peace once more."

The faith in their eyes was more than what Seonghwa felt he deserved. It was the blossom of something new, of a hope they hadn't dared hope in many years. It was frightening, the weight of the responsibility heavy, but Seonghwa felt it before and he was ready to bear it again.

"We depart in the morning while the orcs still slumber. Work in groups, quick and efficient. My husbands will lead you. And hopefully, by the evening, we can look at healed lands and nurse our wounds."

Some gryphon-borns already cheered, but he was not finished yet. Chased the hope in their eyes, saw them realise their moon was rising stronger and more beautiful than ever. Because Seonghwa was free now, not abiding by the rules of his royal court. This was him, his honest feelings. Fighting not for a crown and a throne, but for his own wishes. And their spirits were inspired.

"I disappointed you many times, and I know you might not want me here. But this time, we strike first. I put my trust in you," Seonghwa ended with another deep bow and this time, more cheered for him. Not all, and some hesitantly, but he fully understood. They needed to see results to trust him.

And tense as his stomach coiled, Seonghwa would not run. From here on, it was straight forward.